The New York Yankees’ infamous ban on facial hair had its roots in the team’s 1973 home opener.
As the story goes, team stars Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, and Sparky Lyle all caught the eye of new owner George Steinbrenner when they removed their caps for the National Anthem. The problem, as everyone who has since played for the Yankees now knows, was that their hair was too long for Steinbrenner’s liking.
And with that, the most famous owner in baseball history instituted his often-disputed ban on long hair, facial stubble, and just about anything he deemed unsavory. In the years that followed, Steinbrenner would battle with slugger Don Mattingly over his mullet and required Jason Giambi to cover his extensive tattoo collection.
Even Steinbrenner’s 2010 passing didn’t impact the team’s facial hair ban, which continued all the way until Friday, when it was officially discontinued by his son and heir, Hal.
And why, exactly, did Hal decide to allow players to grow ‘well-groomed beards’?
‘If I ever found out that a player we wanted to acquire, to make us better, to get us a championship, did not want to be here, and if he had the ability to, would not come here because of that policy, as important as it is to that generation, that would be very, very concerning,’ Steinbrenner told reporters at spring training in Florida on Friday while seated alongside general manager Brian Cashman. ‘I am fairly convinced that’s a real concern.’
Rival star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is set to become a free agent next season, beard and all
George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in 1973 banned facial hair soon after when he caught a glimpse of shaggy catcher Thurman Munson (pictured right in 1973)
San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease and his beard will both be a free agents in 2026
The timing of the decision is particularly fascinating – one year before several bearded stars are set to become free agents.
Yes, there are a few current Yankees players who sport offseason facial hair, and the team recently acquired scruffy star reliever Devin Williams.
But it’s players like bearded Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose contract expires at the end of the season, who appear to be the real targets of this policy.
‘This generation, the vast majority of 20s, 30s into the 40s, men in this country have beards,’ Hal Steinbrenner said. ‘It is part of who these younger men are, it’s part of their character, it’s part of their persona.
‘Do I totally relate to that? It’s difficult for me, I’m an older guy who’s never had a beard in his life.’
And it’s not just Guerrero who will be hitting the free-agent market, facial hair and all.
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz sports a beard and an impressive career on-base percentage of .372, making him another potential option for the Yankees in the future
Bearded pitchers like the San Diego Padres’ Dylan Cease and the Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star (pictured) Zac Gallen could also be free agents after the 2025 MLB season
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz sports a beard and an impressive career on-base percentage of .372, making him another potential option for the Yankees either in free agency or as a mid-season trade acquisition.
Bearded pitchers like the San Diego Padres’ Dylan Cease and the Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Zac Gallen could also be free agents.
While the policy is a departure for the clean-shaven Yankees, Hal doesn’t think it dishonors his father’s memory. Rather, he sees this as a commitment to excellence, which is what George valued above all else, even if players were once happy to shave off their beads in order to wear pinstripes.
‘Winning was the most important thing to my father and, again, I think if somebody came and told him they were very sure that this could affect us getting the players we want to get — all we’re tryin to do every offseason is put ourselves in the best position to get a player we’re trying to get,’ Hal said.
‘If something like this would detract from that, lessen our chances, I don’t know, I think he might be a little more apt to do the change I did than people think because it was about winning.’
